Award Information
Description of original award (Fiscal Year 2017, $345,936)
The Kansas Bureau of Investigation (KBI) Forensic Laboratory is the agency that is responsible for the analysis of evidentiary samples from possible crimes for all state and local law enforcement agencies and medical examiners offices within the state of Kansas.
The KBI has four laboratories within the system three of which conduct DNA testing. The three laboratories conducting DNA testing are Great Bend (West Region Laboratory); Topeka (headquarters), and Kansas City. The KBI laboratory in Topeka also houses the Databank Laboratory.
The KBI Biology section of the Forensic Laboratory currently has ten qualified DNA scientists. The laboratory lost two qualified DNA scientists in 2016 and two trainees. One of the qualified DNA scientists also serves as supervisor and the DNA technical leader. One of the qualified DNA scientists has been taken off of casework to train three (3) new scientists.
Federal funding from this award will be used for the following goals.
1. To continue funding for salary and benefits for a Forensic Scientist III in the Kansas City Laboratory and a part-time Laboratory Technician for the Great Bend Laboratory. These positions have been funded by the previous DNA Backlog Reduction grants.
2. Provide training and the required continuing education for six of the analysts.
3. Purchase replacement qPCR instruments.
4. Purchase faraday boxes to allow satellite laboratories to process digital evidence without waiting on the digital evidence section to process the evidence first.
nca/ncf